In Brief

Upper West Side New York Magazine's 30th-annual Best of New York list hit newsstands this week, and U.W.S. restaurant Betony (41 W. 57th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) made the cut, thanks to its foie gras. It's not the actual foie gras that landed Betony on this year's list, however. Rather, New York Magazine coveted the dish's "lowly ham hock, which is cooked two ways (as a gourmet consommé and inserted into the actual foie gras) to bring a much-needed down-home kick to this tired, overly fussy haute-cuisine classic." The 85-seat restaurant serves up its foie gras, along with poached monkfish, ricotta gnudi and other dishes daily, with dinner starting at 5:30 p.m., and lunch at noon during weekdays.

Órale mexican kitchen

Jersey City eatery Órale Mexican Kitchen opened an Upper West Side outpost in the old Café Frida location (768 Amsterdam Ave., between 97th and 98th Streets). Doors opened on Monday, March 17 for dinner, the restaurant announced on its Facebook page. Across the river, Órale features six versions of guacamole, ranging from the standard, with tomatoes and cilantro, to the bold, with braised pork belly or blue cheese and pepitas. An appropriately tequila-heavy beverage menu features more than 50 different tequilas, which diners can order solo or in flights for tasting, or shaken into a margarita or cocktail. In keeping with the playful ambiance found in the Jersey City restaurant, Órale on the U.W.S is got a fresh coat of paint: photos on the restaurant's Facebook page show murals of longhorn skulls painted against a rose-colored background that evokes a Mexican sunset. West Side Rag first reported the restaurant's plans to open on the U.W.S.

Enjoy Free Macarons on Macaron Day NYC

The start of spring just got a bit sweeter, thanks to the return of Macaron Day NYC. On Thursday, March 20, participating bakeries throughout the city will give away free macarons to customers, including Upper West Side shops Macaron Parlor (560 Columbus Ave., between W. 87 and W. 88 Streets) and Sugar and Plumm (377 Amsterdam Ave., between W. 78 and W. 79 Streets). Started in 2010 by chef Francois Payard, owner of FP Patisserie and Payard Bakery, Macaron Day NYC corresponds to the similar Jour du Macaron in Paris. And if one free macaron isn't enough, patrons can feel good about purchasing more of the delicate French confections. At some locations, portions of macaron purchases will go to City Harvest. For a map of all participating locations, visit macarondaynyc.com.